Tunbridge Wells

Tunbridge Wells' population expanded in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. Data from the census also show there were changes in marriage, religion and housing tenure.

The population reached nearly 120,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Tunbridge Wells increased by 11%, from just over 104,000 to 115,000.

The addition of just over 11,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Tunbridge Wells was home to, on average, 2.5 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Tunbridge Wells

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Tunbridge Wells increased by one year, from 39 to 40 years.

This growing rural area had a slightly higher average age than the South East and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 3,800 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 800.

About 16% of people in Tunbridge Wells are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Tunbridge Wells by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Tunbridge Wells

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in Tunbridge Wells at a faster rate than across the South East.

In Tunbridge Wells, the proportion of single people increased from 28% in 2001 to 31% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 29% to 32%.

Across the South East, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 29% to 32%.

The proportion of married people in Tunbridge Wells fell from 54% to 50%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 10% to 12%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Tunbridge Wells

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 27% said they had no religion. The figure increased from 27% in 2001

The number of people in Tunbridge Wells that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 17,000 in 2001 to just under 31,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 16% to 27% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious affiliation.

The percentage increased at a similar rate to the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%), but at a faster rate than the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Tunbridge Wells that described themselves as Christian decreased from just over 78,000 in 2001 to just over 72,000 in 2011 (from 75% to 63%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from about 7,700 to just under 9,200 (from 7.4% to 8.0%).

About 1,200 people (0.6%) said they were Muslim, up from about 590 in 2001 (1.1%).

The population without a religion in Tunbridge Wells increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Tunbridge Wells by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Tunbridge Wells

The percentage of Tunbridge Wells residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 91% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.6%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.0% in 2001. The percentage of Tunbridge Wells residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 91% in 2001 to 90% in 2011). Across England, the percentage remained close to 90%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Tunbridge Wells at a faster rate than in Tonbridge and Malling (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Tunbridge Wells).

In Tunbridge Wells, the proportion of private renting increased from 11% in 2001 to 17% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Tonbridge and Malling increased from 6.0% to 10%.

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10% to 16%.

The rate of social housing in Tunbridge Wells fell from 16% to 15%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 71% to 66%.

Private renting in Tunbridge Wells increased by 6.4 percentage points

Percentage of households in Tunbridge Wells, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Tunbridge Wells

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 95% said they were from the White ethnic groups. The figure increased from 95% in 2001

The number of people in Tunbridge Wells from the White ethnic groups increased from about 100,000 in 2001 to just under 110,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the local population, this represented a decrease from 98% to 95%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the South East (from 95% to 91%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Tunbridge Wells from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just over 1,000 in 2001 to just over 2,900 in 2011 (from 1.0% to 2.5%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 950 to just under 1,900 (from 0.9% to 1.7%).

Just under 640 people (0.3%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 270 in 2001 (0.6%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Tunbridge Wells decreased by 2.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Tunbridge Wells by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Tunbridge Wells residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 6.6% to 3.9% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (85%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 73% in 2001. The percentage of Tunbridge Wells residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20% to 11%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Tunbridge Wells decreased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Tunbridge Wells, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Tunbridge Wells, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 9.1% to 11% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage that had only one person remained close to 29%, while the percentage of households in Tunbridge Wells which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 40% to 37%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.7% in 2001 to 9.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Tunbridge Wells residents that were unemployed increased from 1.9% to 3.0% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (54%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 55% in 2001. The percentage of Tunbridge Wells residents that were self-employed increased from 12% to 14%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.3% in 2001 to 3.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Tunbridge Wells increased by 1.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Tunbridge Wells, the South East and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Tunbridge Wells without children decreased from 62% to 61% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage that had at least one dependent child remained close to 30%, while the percentage of households in Tunbridge Wells with only adult children living with their parents increased from 8.5% to 9.0%.

The proportion of households without children fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (which remained close to 62%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 61%.

The proportion of households without children was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in work hours

The percentage of employed people in Tunbridge Wells working less than 16 hours increased from 2.2% to 2.9% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in eight (13%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 16% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.1% in 2001 to 3.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Tunbridge Wells residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.3% to 1.7% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 0.7%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 1.7% in 2001 to 2.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Tunbridge Wells remained close to 1.7%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Tunbridge Wells by care, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links